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In the Twist of Time
I learned about the YouthBuild St. Louis/Soulard program in 1993 from my brother. At that time I had nothing but time and trouble on my hands. Since I didn't have anything going on, I said to myself "What the heck, I guess I'll also give it a try." At that time I was involved in gangs and criminal activities.
I first joined the gang in 1989; I was recruited by a local gang that started in Long Beach, California, and later moved to the Midwest. Over the years I came to believe that gangs were "cool." I spent time hanging out, drinkin' and smokin' with the homies. I've done it all with them, and that life style caused a lot of casualties in my life. One of the casualties was education.
I dropped out of high school in 1994. It was my junior year, and I was having a lot problems such as passing classes, feeling safe, and addressing financial concerns. I still remember my mom telling me, "Don't be like your brother used to be; he was a nothing person." As run-ins with the law began to increase, I began to think twice about how I was living.
As I considered what to do with my life, I began to notice changes in my brother's life. He started at YouthBuild St. Louis in 1993. He had been on the same road that I was walking, but he appeared to be coming to his senses. As the months went by, I could notice a dramatic change in his life. He seemed happier. Before, when we passed each other on the block, he wouldn't even speak. He didn't want anything to do with me and that was fine with me. Then things began to change; we began to go places together and even started hanging out. Before we only talked about females. Now our comunication had expanded, and we even discussed future plans such as joint business ventures. We discussed buying real estate, and my brother's new attitude clearly indicated that he had acquired more self-esteem and confidence. He told me about all the new skills he was learning such as dry-walling, framing, bricklaying, painting, and much more. As I listen to this new side of him, I wondered if this also could work for me.
When I started at YouthBuild, I immediately felt that this was where I needed to be at that point in my life. The first couple of weeks, it was hell, kind of like boot camp. The instructors pressured the trainees. The trainees were required to dig out basements and cut grass. Imagine the experience when it is 20-30 degrees outside; there's no door, and everyone's under ground; it's crazy! However, it got better. The program began to be fun. Like every Friday we all would get the chance to go on a field trip to somewhere interesting. The faculty threw the trainees a party for successfully completing orientation. I knew I was in for a long, but interesting, road.
My best experience at Youth Build was the chance to work at the Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a very important event in the Salaried area where YouthBuild is located. For people who don't know, Mardi Gras is a celebration which concludes on Fat Tuesday just before Lent begins. It is one wild party before the season of penance begins. As I worked at the Youth Build booth, it was the first time I had ever seen so many different ethnic groups together without any real problems. You know how problems seem to occur when a lot of people get together. Well that didn't happen at the Mardi Gras. For example when there is a lot of people crowded together fights and robberies some time happen. We trainees have been given the chance to do some exciting things in this program, but Mardi Gras was my favorite.
I would tell anyone interested in attending YouthBuild it is a great program for anyone who's interested in a new start. Youth Build is a pretty cool place to begin. While participating in YouthBuild, I've moved from the life of a gang member without a future to the life of a prospective construction work with a future. If I can come that far, anyone else can also.
The author is a twenty-year-old single father with one daughter.
